To celebrate its 24th anniversary, GMT Magazine is organizing a week-long adventure for 24 watch enthusiasts, spanning from Geneva to Schaffhausen, with stops in Neuchâtel and the Vallée de Joux. The itinerary includes an exclusive exploration of the workshops and manufactures where exceptional timepieces are born. Here's a sneak preview of the programme for Day 2, which begins with a morning dive into MB&F's M.A.D.House, followed by an afternoon tour of the Hublot manufacture. Participants will be welcomed there for a light lunch before taking in the sights.
An incubator for cutting-edge innovation
As you step into the Manufacture, push open the first door on the right, just past reception. You’ll find yourself enveloped in a studious silence, with no watchmaker in sight, only a series of high-tech machines operated by busy engineers and technicians. We are in Nyon, a stone's throw from Geneva, in Hublot's Research and Development department. "A sort of start-up within the company," as one materials engineer describes it with a smile. This space, entirely dedicated to innovation, perfectly illustrates Hublot's signature "Art of Fusion". Here, the most avant-garde materials are developed: high-tech ceramics in vibrant colours, sapphire crystals in an array of yellows, blues, reds, oranges, greens and purples, and not to mention King Gold and Magic Gold – Hublot’s proprietary gold with a 1000 Vickers hardness, invented just over a decade ago.
Cutting-edge movements
Avant-garde and disruptive, Hublot has developed a whole range of in-house movements at its Nyon facility. A tour of the workshops offers a glimpse into the mystique surrounding the renowned Unico automatic chronograph, as well as the Meca-10, Tourbillon and MP-11 movements, known for their exceptional power reserves. And, of course, hopefully try to understand the revolutionary approach of the 11-barrel MP-05 calibre, boasting 50 days of autonomy a bit better!
Throughout your visit, whether delving into fundamental research on material development or observing the manufacturing of movement micro-components, dials, and cases, you'll discover that Hublot's secret lies in a seamless blend of high-tech innovation and craftsmanship, the precision of machines and the ingenuity of human hands.
After the tour, it's off to Neuchâtel and the Hotel Beaulac for the next stage of the GMT Watch Safari!
To register for the GMT Watch Safari, from 27 October to 1 November 2024, click here!
